Thanks: 0
Needs Pictures: 0
Picture(s) thanks: 0
Results 1 to 15 of 23
Thread: Earliest Wadkin bandsaw
-
30th April 2022, 10:45 PM #1
Earliest Wadkin bandsaw
The earliest Wadkin bandsaw to my knowledge, this would of been manufactured by Preston of Canada around the early 1920s for Wadkin to help out with the overwhelming amount of orders Pryor to green lane works being built in 1922..
IMG_20220430_203409.jpg
IMG_20220430_203258.jpg
IMG_20220430_203242.jpg
IMG_20220424_200835.jpg
Melbourne Matty
-
30th April 2022 10:45 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
- Join Date
- Always
- Location
- Advertising world
- Posts
- Many
-
1st May 2022, 06:49 PM #2Senior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2014
- Location
- Beach
- Posts
- 166
Looks good!
Definitely looks older than this one, I'm not sure what sort it is.
Old Wadkin 1.jpg
Old wadkin 2.jpg
Have fun,
Alli
-
1st May 2022, 08:21 PM #3
Nice one Matty. That looks identical in nearly every detail to my 1928 Preston 30” No.132. Only the top guard is different; and mine has Chaco guides. Preston Bandsaw
I cant see how that one is powered (direct drive/lineshaft/vee belts).
If you’re still communicating with the guy who’s got it, could you ask for me:
- does it have “Preston” cast into the top arm and/or “Preston Woodworking Machinery…” cast around the back (just above the drive) like mine has; and
- is there a serial number stamped on one corner of the table.
Cheers, Vann.
Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
1st May 2022, 08:28 PM #4Gatherer of rusty
planestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
2nd May 2022, 12:15 AM #5Senior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2014
- Location
- Beach
- Posts
- 166
Thanks Vann.
It belongs to a friend.
I have a DR & a big Agazzanni. No room for another big bandsaw.
Have fun,
Alli
-
2nd May 2022, 02:14 PM #6
Catalogue Cuts.
Interesting that it's classified FF. That would tie in with the next Wadkin bandsaw being an FG. Note the 36" version is an FG.
DH DN FG.jpeg Catalogue cut from Auscab.
Whereas a few years later the 36" version was classified in line with the DH and DN as DO.
DH DN DO.jpg Catalogue cut from Chris McM.
I think Auscab's catalogue dates to the mid 1920s, and Chris McM's to ~1928.
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
2nd May 2022, 07:03 PM #7SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Sep 2012
- Location
- uk
- Posts
- 456
Vann, what size is your preston, how does it compare with number of spokes in the wheel etc.
-
2nd May 2022, 07:12 PM #8
Spokes.
Mine is only the 30" model - with 10 spokes (which is the same as the 36" model - I think).
Preston upper wheel.jpg
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
3rd May 2022, 11:35 PM #9Senior Member
- Join Date
- Mar 2014
- Location
- Beach
- Posts
- 166
Now that's a nice saw!
Tensioning a blade must push it through the ceiling though!
Is that what the hole is for?
Have fun,
Alli
-
4th May 2022, 12:02 AM #10
Holy Carp.
To get the saw to fit under the ceiling I had to lower the upper wheel 3". When tensioned there's 15-20mm clearance. I sent away the blades that came with the saw to have them shortened by 6".
Plan 'A' was to poke the upper wheel through the ceiling - but after positioning the saw under that slot I decided it needed to be turned 90 degrees - and that would have resulted in the need to take a chunk out of a joist above. I didn't want to do that.
Thing is, lowering the upper wheel doesn't affect the depth of cut. And shortening the blade from 17' 6" to 17' 0" doesn't effect the life of the blade much either. Putting the top guard back on would affect the depth of cut unless I modified it - and as it's the original ~1928 guard I'm not prepared to do that.
I haven't had a blade come off... yet .
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
5th May 2022, 03:34 AM #11SENIOR MEMBER
- Join Date
- Sep 2012
- Location
- uk
- Posts
- 456
Why would an agent of wadkin put a FF tag on a preston machine. I think that tag has been put on their later in its life.
-
5th May 2022, 09:37 PM #12
Badge Engineered.
16th December, 1924 to be precise. I managed to get a copy of the test page.
FF 111 2445.jpg
The handwriting is a bit hard to read, but it looks like once the machine arrived from Canada they replaced the rubber tyre on the upper wheel, modified the upper guard, and test ran the saw for 4 hours. Matty tells me they also ground the "Preston" off the top arm.
Then they stuck a "Wadkin & Co." badge on it and sold it as their own. Not that different to buying a Taiwanese woodworking machine today - all made in the same factory, but available in many brands.
Cheers, Vann.Gatherer of rustyplanestools...
Proud member of the Wadkin Blockhead Club .
-
5th May 2022, 10:52 PM #13
Does it say after 4 hours test duration "top wheel re rubbered"
-
5th May 2022, 10:58 PM #14
-
5th May 2022, 11:05 PM #15
Well its a remark, which also says bearings cool (which implies following the test) and would you want a new customer to have a machine with a used rubber?
Similar Threads
-
Wadkin Bandsaw B700
By timberbits in forum ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE MACHINERYReplies: 5Last Post: 7th July 2019, 12:48 PM -
How to transport a Wadkin bandsaw
By woodlogic in forum ANTIQUE AND VINTAGE MACHINERYReplies: 28Last Post: 26th October 2015, 03:16 PM -
Wadkin Bursgreen BZB 20/500 Bandsaw
By camoz in forum ANTIQUE AND COLLECTABLE TOOLSReplies: 12Last Post: 17th June 2013, 10:36 PM -
Earliest available 2007 WW shows
By John Saxton in forum WOODIES EVENTSReplies: 7Last Post: 31st October 2006, 05:43 PM